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Colin and Justin: Sir Richard explains to us the meaning of home

“Over dinner with Sir Richard Branson, one of the world’s most intrepid adventurers, Colin and Justin discover that, no matter the distance travelled, home really is where the heart is.”

“Perpetually on the road:” Four words that capture our professional schedule, not that we’re complaining. Last week, as you may recall, we waxed lyrical about the design landscape in L.A. (with a smattering of Hannibal Lecter flung in for good measure), and this week, by our own admission, we’re Virgin on the ridiculous. But in a very good way. Aye, courtesy of an adventure from which we’ve just returned, we have lots to tell.

Colin, left, and Justin, right, had a very enlightening conversation with Sir Richard Branson while vacationing in Grand Cayman this week. (LEWIS PATRICK / FOR THE TORONTO STAR)

As you read this, we’ll be safely back in Toronto after another lovely trip to Grand Cayman. During the first part of the jaunt we were accompanied by Bettie and Doug MacKenzie, a lovely couple who won their vacay during a Grand Cayman celebration of food and culture at Oliver’s Restaurant in Oakville. Bettie, a semi-retired, but fabulously youthful, interior designer, and her debonair husband Doug — who works in the real estate business — made for great company and we bonded instantly. With animated chatter darting between property investment and Roche Bobois furnishings, we couldn’t have been happier!

When our new friends’ five-day odyssey drew to its conclusion, we actually became glassy eyed, so much fun had been their company. Waving them off we stole ourselves by thinking of our remaining time on island and, specifically, the Legends Championships, a tennis event which draws a veritable racquet of retired court stars (Jimmy Arias, Stefan Edberg and Martina Hingis to name but a few) to the Ritz-Carlton, where the revered tournament is held. It was fun to watch, but even more fun to chat, poolside, with the sporting heroes, many of whom were the objects of our fascination when we were young teenagers. And yes, before you say it, that’s going back.

Also at the Ritz-Carlton was former American President George W. Bush (he jetted in for the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit) but, if we’re perfectly honest, we didn’t pursue a photo opportunity. For fear of crossing the line into political comment, we’ll say simply that he’s not, ahem, our favourite ex-leader. This in mind we gave him a wide berth.

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An utter gentleman who did spike our interest, however, was the phenomenally affable Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group empire. A keynote speaker at the aforementioned summit, Sir R. was also guest of honour at a dinner hosted by mutual friends, Natalie and Andreas Ugland. Natalie, who hails from Montreal, and her shipping magnate husband, who’s Norwegian, combine to make one of the most generous and philanthropic couples we’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. As the Uglands threw open the door to their sprawling ocean-side home (to help raise awareness of, and funds for, Virgin Unite, Sir Richard’s charity) the atmosphere was simply electric.

Following a delicious banquet enjoyed by a select number of local dignitaries, politicians and charity workers, we retired to the terrace to enjoy the warm sea air and it was there we discussed many things, not least the fire, 15 months past, that ravaged his beloved home on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. While obviously devastated by its destruction, Sir Richard rhapsodized about the fact no one was injured. His 90-year-old mom, on Necker at the time, was actually carried to safety by actress Kate Winslet, who was holidaying with the Bransons as the brutal fire took hold.

Richard explained his belief that everything, with the exception of life, is replaceable and we, of course, concurred. As the waves lapped gently at the water’s edge, we raised a glass to humanity, concurring, as we did, that our existence should be savoured and enjoyed for every precious moment.

Our fascinating conversation with the Virgin boss made us appraise what “home” means to us. In our case, home is less about the value of bricks and mortar and more about the sanctuary it can provide. Home, for us, is a warm haven from the outside world, a space (potentially any space) in which we can relax and enjoy quality time together and with friends.

But the essence of home runs deeper than that; it is, after all, where the heart is. “Home” translates as the excitement we experience when our plane touches down in Scotland, or when we dash to London to service a private client. And of course, the joyous feeling of home engulfs us in bustling Toronto, where we’ve felt particularly welcome since the day we arrived. Interestingly, as we see it, the sense of home is also portable — we might experience its serene succour during a trip to the cottage, or crashed on a friend’s sofa after a particularly hedonistic dinner party.

Paris, too, while on the subject of portability, makes us feel immediately centred. We love the grand architecture, the wide boulevards and the manicured public parks. We actually find Parisians friendly, though we recognize that to others they can appear brusque, even cold, at times. That said, we’ve long since been committed Francophiles; in fact we’ve been indulging our Gallic leanings since teenage years via eager thumbs, favours and cheap ferry tickets. Yes, those were the days. Uncomplicated journeys that fetched little from our pockets yet brought so much home to our young hearts.

Home, you see, is an utterly movable feast. We’re fortunate to have bases in Glasgow, London and Toronto, but we tend not to miss the other two when enjoying an “unfaithful” dalliance with the third. That’s because we carry a little of each place with us as we move around. Sure, we miss our family when we’re in Canada, but so too do we miss our Canadian contingent when we’re back in the U.K. But we can Skype, facetime and telephone and, courtesy of these modern gifts, geography is confounded and distance diminished.

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As we chatted with Sir Richard, he talked fondly of his family and of his love for “home.” We’re certain when he travels he misses his wife, Joan (Sir R. reminded us she’s Glaswegian), his children and his extended family, but they’re clearly with him, in his heart, as he continues his good work. Having built his business from inauspicious beginnings in 1970, he has gone on to become one of the world’s most prolific and successful entities. Yet for all his reputation as a strict and tenacious business man, we found him warm and thoroughly compelling. And, of course, utterly devoted to his charity and his belief in home . . . wherever that happens to take him.

• Virgin Unite is the not-for-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, founded by Sir Richard Branson. Learn more at virginunite.com.

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook (ColinandJustin). Check out their new product ranges at candjhome.co.uk. Contact them through their website colinandjustin.tv.

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